Chapter XXVI - The Strife

"The twenty-first...that's...tomorrow!" North exclaimed, "To think if we have opened it another day late..."

"But we didn't, so we got nothing to worry about." I tuck the letter back into the envelope, handing it off to North. "Now we just have to remember."

"Tomorrow, before three. You should try and be on time too," He said, "Would be rude of us to miss it."

"I got it, North. Not like I don't know how important just a little bit of information can be," I throw a smirk over my shoulder at him, "I'm sure Mister Worrywart here will make sure that we aren't ten minutes late."

He groans good-naturedly, running a hand through his hair, "I think you could be a little more worried, but whatever. Guess I can be Mr. Worrywart so we don't mess up on anything."

I turn, looking down the path towards the lit school buildings, their spilling out of the windows and across the pavement.

"Do you think...maybe we can finally find an end to all of this?" North asks, his voice pensive, "...Do you think we can ever catch him?"

"We will, we have to." I clench my fist at my side, anger boiling just at the memory of the day my mother's life was unjustly taken, "We can't let him go without a consequence of his actions, not after what he had done."

North glances to the side, nodding his head solemnly, "Of course...well after father got in trouble, it's still going to be difficult with the slate he left us on."

My anger doesn't simmer down, a weight settles over me like a blanket, and I snap at him.

"Okay, I get it alright? I just have such a harder time because 'I' am the one left the 'slate'- It's not like you were there when I needed help the most-! " I stop, breathing heavily, surprised at my own outburst.

"Huh? Wait no, sister-"

I hold up a hand, cutting him off, "...no, I just- I don't want to talk about it anymore." Turning on my heel, I walk away as fast as I could, leaving North gaping in stunned silence.

My thoughts raced through my head, a feeling of guilt washing over me, but the anger burned over it.

'Ugh, I know it's not his fault, but- life is not fair. If only-'

That line of thought didn't trail far, just then as I turned a corner, I walked in on a band of students huddled together a few feet away, their backs turned to me.

I slow to a halt, realizing they haven't noticed me yet, I manage to catch a bit of the hushed whispers exchanging between them.

"Did you get it-?"

"No, one supervisor is still-"

"Quiet-!"

One of them whips their head around, motioning for the others to be silent.

"Oh, it's just one of the new 'students.'"He turns around to face me fully, a pretentious smile forming on his face, "Ah, don't you know its rude to eavesdrop on a conversation like that? Tsk, you demons are the same."

I recognized that presumptuous tone, the one who mocked me in the cafeteria, and the one who pushed me in the courtyard-! I clench my hands into fists, a rising feeling just compels me to want to wipe that smug look off his face.

He must have seen the chord he struck on my face, because he grins wider, happy of the fact he got a rise out of me.

"You might as well show your respect to your superiors, I just might spare you from further humiliation if you were to kneel at my feet like the slave you are--!?"

WHACK!

I breathe out my nose, my heart pounding in my ears.

The dude falls back onto his bum, blood flowing from where my fist had connected with his nose.

"-Ugh! You-"

"What's going on here?" A teacher walks out into the courtyard, led by one of the friends that had stood with the bully.

I cringe, realizing how bad the situation looked for me.

The guy I punched points his finger at me, furious, "This..this..demon-! Just attacked me out of nowhere! Just- just like the uncontrolled half-bloods they are-"

I had to stop myself from swinging another hit, my annoyance almost boiling red. Instead, I step back, internally struggling to control my sudden violent impulses.

The teacher rushes to his side, attempting to stop the blood with a couple of paper napkins, she helps him up and ushers him through the door.

"Head to the medical wing, the nurse should be able to help you." She then turns to me, fixing me with a stern look, "And you, come to the Headmaster's office with me, now."

I follow along quietly, knowing I had to be in trouble. As unfair as it was, I was now the bad guy in this game of victims.

We come upon the Headmaster's door in what seemed like forever. A sense of dread settling in my stomach.

After a knock, the doorknob clicks open, opening to the Headmaster at his desk, stacks of papers and files piled onto it. He looks up from the document in his hands, before flashing a warm smile, despite the obvious tiredness behind it.

"Hm? To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit? From the look on your faces, it's not too pleasant at all," He raises an eyebrow, glancing at me.

"This student had harmed another student on school campus, the reason was unclear but the boy in question was injured." The teacher said.

I swallow, my whole body tensing in anticipation.

Yoshi sets down the paper in his hand and clasps them together, his violet eyes turning more serious, "...Is this true?"

I put my head up, gathering all the confidence I can muster, "...Yes. And for good reason."

He gazes at me, his expression unchanging, "What reason is that, that you would go to the extreme of hurting them?"

I try not to shrink, keeping my voice steady, "..He was insulting of my kind, exerted his status over me, and called me a..slave. I think I could call that verbal assault if you ask me."

He nods, face softening slightly in understanding, and he sighs, sounding resigned. "I understand why you acted the way you did, but you still broke one of the rules- no engaging in physical fights. Normally you would be suspended, or expelled depending on the severity, but I will let you off with a few weeks of cleaning duty, starting tomorrow morning."

I relax a little, glad the punishment wasn't worse, though slightly annoyed that I am the only one that has to serve it.

"If he does or says anything like that again, tell me. Because of the power his family has, we can't convict him when he was the one that got harmed. If it continues, we will resort to the necessary measures."

I nod slowly, settling with this reassurance.

"And if theres nothing else, shoo. I have a lot of work to do, and papers to sign." He smiles briefly, looking at me, "I hope to not have to see you here again with trouble at your back anytime soon, Uishi."